T:The DESPAIRING LOVER.
Whose Mind with Sorrow much was discontented, Because of his true Love he was prevented.
To the Tune of, Aim not too high.
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BReak heart and dye, I may no longer live,
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[?] this World nothing that I would give,
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I live forlorn, oh joys are from me fled,
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I have lost my Love, alas, my heart is dead!
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Each thing on earth continueth with his Love,
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The pritty D[???]eon and the Turtle-dove;
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And divers others in this World I know,
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But my Love will not seem to love me so.
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I little thought what true I now do find,
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I did not dream my Love would prove unkind;
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But 'tis no news, for many proves untrue,
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And so doth mine, for she bids me adieu.
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Seeing 'tis so, i'll turn a Palmer poor,
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And I will range abroad the World half o'er,
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To see if I can find some dismal cave.
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There will I dwell, there will I dig my grave.
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I will go travel to some new found Land,
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To France to Spain and Turky out of hand;
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Where unto Strangers there I will complain,
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How that my Love hath me unkindly slain.
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If I do land upon some new found shore,
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Whereas no Man did ever land before,
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Then should I think myself in happy case,
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For my delight is in a silent place.
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There will I write my fill of my true Love;
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Did I say true? what fancy did me move,
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To count her true that always was unkind,
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And is as fickle as the wavering wind?
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Once she was fair and lovely in my sight,
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[?]
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But now her smiles are turn'd to frowns and fire,
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To kill my heart with woe is her desire.
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Bright Phebus beams are darkned in the skies,
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When as the storms of Boreas do arise;
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But she doth quickly shine after the rain,
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But my coy Mistress will not love again.
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I would I were now sinking in the Seas
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In some frail vessel, if the Fates did please:
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Where neither love nor comfort could be found,
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But every hour expecting to be drown'd,
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My speeches all do but prolong my pain,
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For I did never fail the Dream[?]-main;
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Nor will I suffer life in me to 'bide,
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So long to wait the time of wind and tide.
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Seeing 'tis so, to the wilderness i'll hie,
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Amongst wild beasts, where I intend to dye;
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Where lyons, tygers, bears, and panthers mourn,
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With dragons, elephants and unicorn.
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Thus many wishes I have wisht in vain,
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And none of these can ease me of my pain:
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This piercing poniard now shall end the strife,
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And kill my heart that loaths this mortal life.
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This being spoken, forth his Love did rush,
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Beholding him with many a smile and blush,
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O hold, quoth she, and hear what I do say,
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Do not despair, nor work thy lives decay.
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You Maidens fair, I pray come lend an ear,
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And you shall see how true he did appear:
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She gave him comfort in his troubled mind:
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And ther after prov'd herself most kind.
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A Constant and Kind MAID,
Who sav'd in Love a proper young Man's Life, And after prov'd his dear and loving Wife.
To the same TUNE.
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COntent thyself my Love, and do not dye,
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Thy life I love, thy death I do defie,
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Live then in joy and seek to banish pain,
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Take a good heart, and I will love again.
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Each-thing on earth doth love his chosen Mate,
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And thou condemnest me, and said I hate:
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Men love by fancy, beasts they love by kind,
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Then fancy me, and thou shalt favour find.
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For all the gold that Cresus e'er did own,
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I will not seem to leave my Love alone;
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No, no, my Love, I will not prove untrue,
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Nor will I change an old Friend for a new.
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Thou shalt not need to turn a Palmer poor,
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For I for thee have gold and silver store;
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Instead of finding out some secret place,
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Thou shalt have me within thy arms t'imbrace;
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Thou shalt not travel to another land,
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For i'le be ready still at thy command:
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Thou shalt my Dear have no cause to complain,
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For I with joy thy love will entertain.
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If thou hadst landed on some forreign shore,
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Whereas no Man did ever land did ever land before:
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But seeing thou art here alive with me,
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Thou shalt not go hence dangers for to see:
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What wilt thou wish of me my own true Love,
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Fear not my Dear, for I will constant prove:
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I am thy own, and so thou shalt me find,
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To thee I will be loving true and kind.
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As I was fair and lovely in thy sight,
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So will I prove thy joy and heart's delight;
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I will not seek thy dearest blood to spill,
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But I will yield unto thy wished will.
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Sweet I have listned to thy moan and cries,
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Weep thou no more, but wipe thy watry eyes:
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the storms are past, the sun shines after rain,
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And I do vow to love thee once again.
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If thou wert on the roaring Sea so wide,
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Upon the Dophins back then thou may'st ride:
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Desiring Neptune's favour out of hand,
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To be your Pilot to some other Land.
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Sweet Love abroad much dangers do ensue,
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The Sea and Wilderness bids thee adieu;
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Ne'er seek to write, nor think of wind and tide,
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But live with me and I will be thy Bride.
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O stay at home my Love and go not there,
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Wild beasts in pieces will thy body tear:
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When I behold them for to suck thy blood,
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They shall have mine, my Love, to do thee good.
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Lo thus to thee, my Love, I do make known,
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Vowing hereafter I will by thy own:
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O stay thy hand, my Love, and do not dill
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Thy gentle heart, which I do love so well.
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Then straight he took his Love into his arms,
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That had preserv'd his bo[d]y from such harms,
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We come, quoth he, I lov[e] thee as my life,
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And quickly after he made her his Wife.
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Thus have you heard my Song of woe and joy,
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Le[t] Maids and young Men listen to't I pray;
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Make you no Vows, but have a spec[ial] care,
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For fear you wound your Love with deep despair.
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